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worldly ways and byways-第1章

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Worldly Ways and Byways


by Eliot Gregory






A Table of Contents



To the READER



1。  Charm

2。  The Moth and the Star

3。  Contrasted Travelling

4。  The Outer and the Inner Woman

5。  On Some Gilded Misalliances

6。  The Complacency of Mediocrity

7。  The Discontent of Talent

8。  Slouch

9。  Social Suggestion

10。 Bohemia

11。 Social Exiles

12。 〃Seven Ages〃 of Furniture

13。 Our Elite and Public Life

14。 The Small Summer Hotel

15。 A False Start

16。 A Holy Land

17。 Royalty at Play

18。 A Rock Ahead

19。 The Grand Prix

20。 〃The Treadmill〃

21。 〃Like Master Like Man〃

22。 An English Invasion of the Riviera

23。 A Common Weakness

24。 Changing Paris

25。 Contentment

26。 The Climber

27。 The Last of the Dandies

28。 A Nation on the Wing

29。 Husks

30。 The Faubourg St。 Germain

31。 Men's Manners

32。 An Ideal Hostess

33。 The Introducer

34。 A Question and an Answer

35。 Living on Your Friends

36。 American Society in Italy

37。 The Newport of the Past

38。 A Conquest of Europe

39。 A Race of Slaves

40。 Introspection









To the Reader





THERE existed formerly; in diplomatic circles; a curious custom; 

since fallen into disuse; entitled the Pele Mele; contrived 

doubtless by some distracted Master of Ceremonies to quell the 

endless jealousies and quarrels for precedence between courtiers 

and diplomatists of contending pretensions。  Under this rule no 

rank was recognized; each person being allowed at banquet; fete; or 

other public ceremony only such place as he had been ingenious or 

fortunate enough to obtain。



Any one wishing to form an idea of the confusion that ensued; of 

the intrigues and expedients resorted to; not only in procuring 

prominent places; but also in ensuring the integrity of the Pele 

Mele; should glance over the amusing memoirs of M。 de Segur。



The aspiring nobles and ambassadors; harassed by this constant 

preoccupation; had little time or inclination left for any serious 

pursuit; since; to take a moment's repose or an hour's breathing 

space was to risk falling behind in the endless and aimless race。  

Strange as it may appear; the knowledge that they owed place and 

preferment more to chance or intrigue than to any personal merit or 

inherited right; instead of lessening the value of the prizes for 

which all were striving; seemed only to enhance them in the eyes of 

the competitors。



Success was the unique standard by which they gauged their fellows。  

Those who succeeded revelled in the adulation of their friends; but 

when any one failed; the fickle crowd passed him by to bow at more 

fortunate feet。



No better picture could be found of the 〃world〃 of to…day; a 

perpetual Pele Mele; where such advantages only are conceded as we 

have been sufficiently enterprising to obtain; and are strong or 

clever enough to keep … a constant competition; a daily 

steeplechase; favorable to daring spirits and personal initiative 

but with the defect of keeping frail humanity ever on the qui vive。



Philosophers tell us; that we should seek happiness only in the 

calm of our own minds; not allowing external conditions or the 

opinions of others to influence our ways。  This lofty detachment 

from environment is achieved by very few。  Indeed; the philosophers 

themselves (who may be said to have invented the art of 〃posing〃) 

were generally as vain as peacocks; profoundly pre…occupied with 

the verdict of their contemporaries and their position as regards 

posterity。



Man is born gregarious and remains all his life a herding animal。  

As one keen observer has written; 〃So great is man's horror of 

being alone that he will seek the society of those he neither likes 

nor respects sooner than be left to his own。〃  The laws and 

conventions that govern men's intercourse have; therefore; formed a 

tempting subject for the writers of all ages。  Some have labored 

hoping to reform their generation; others have written to offer 

solutions for life's many problems。



Beaumarchais; whose penetrating wit left few subjects untouched; 

makes his Figaro put the subject aside with 〃Je me presse de rire 

de tout; de peur d'etre oblige d'en pleurer。〃



The author of this little volume pretends to settle no disputes; 

aims at inaugurating no reforms。  He has lightly touched on passing 

topics and jotted down; 〃to point a moral or adorn a tale;〃 some of 

the more obvious foibles and inconsistencies of our American ways。  

If a stray bit of philosophy has here and there slipped in between 

the lines; it is mostly of the laughing 〃school;〃 and used more in 

banter than in blame。



This much abused 〃world〃 is a fairly agreeable place if you do not 

take it seriously。  Meet it with a friendly face and it will smile 

gayly back at you; but do not ask of it what it cannot give; or 

attribute to its verdicts more importance than they deserve。



ELIOT GREGORY



Newport; November first; 1897









CHAPTER 1 … Charm





WOMEN endowed by nature with the indescribable quality we call 

〃charm〃 (for want of a better word); are the supreme development of 

a perfected race; the last word; as it were; of civilization; the 

flower of their kind; crowning centuries of growing refinement and 

cultivation。  Other women may unite a thousand brilliant qualities; 

and attractive attributes; may be beautiful as Astarte or witty as 

Madame de Montespan; those endowed with the power of charm; have in 

all ages and under every sky; held undisputed rule over the hearts 

of their generation。



When we look at the portraits of the enchantresses whom history 

tells us have ruled the world by their charm; and swayed the 

destinies of empires at their fancy; we are astonished to find that 

they have rarely been beautiful。  From Cleopatra or Mary of 

Scotland down to Lola Montez; the tell…tale coin or canvas reveals 

the same marvellous fact。  We wonder how these women attained such 

influence over the men of their day; their husbands or lovers。  We 

would do better to look around us; or inward; and observe what is 

passing in our own hearts。



Pause; reader mine; a moment and reflect。  Who has held the first 

place in your thoughts; filled your soul; and influenced your life?  

Was she the most beautiful of your acquaintances; the radiant 

vision that dazzled your boyish eyes?  Has she not rather been some 

gentle; quiet woman whom you hardly noticed the first time your 

paths crossed; but who gradually grew to be a part of your life … 

to whom you instinctively turned for consolation in moments of 

discouragement; for counsel in your difficulties; and whose welcome 

was the bright moment in your day; looked forward to through long 

hours of toil and worry?



In the hurly…burly of life we lose sight of so many things our 

fathers and mothers clung to; and have drifted so far away from 

their gentle customs and 
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